Case Number 26641

PRINCE AVALANCHE (BLU-RAY)

The Charge

The tale of an unlikely friendship.

Opening Statement

"True love is just like a ghost -- people talk about it but very few
have actually seen it."

Facts of the Case

Texas, 1988. Alvin (Paul Rudd, This is 40) and Lance (Emile Hirsch,
Into the Wild) have been tasked with repainting traffic lines on rural
roads in the middle of an area that had been ravaged by wildfire just a few
months earlier. It's a lonely, dull life, but the two do their best to keep each
other entertained. Alvin is currently in a relationship with Lance's sister,
though he doesn't get to see her much due to the nature of his job (both men are
required to camp out overnight during the week). Lance is currently pursing a
relationship with a local girl, though there's plenty of reason to believe it's
not going to end well. When both characters fall upon hard times, they're forced
to lean on each other to a greater degree than either is really comfortable
with.

The Evidence

The career of David Gordon Green is one of the great mysteries of recent
cinematic history. Early features like George Washington and
Undertow had some critics calling him the successor to Terrence Malick,
but then Green took a hard left turn into mainstream, big-budget comedy:
Pineapple Express, Your Highness, The Sitter and quite a
few episodes of Eastbound and Down. While not all of this material was
without merit, it made everyone wonder what on earth had happened to the man.
Prince Avalanche represents something of a halfway point between the two
sides of Green's career -- it's funny and goofy at times, but there's also room
for poetic reflection.

It should be noted, however, that the humor is of a much drier and slyer
sort than the juvenile giggles in Your Highness. Alvin and Lance are both
fundamentally good guys, but they also have an amusing habit of regarding
themselves as better men than they really are. Alvin sees himself as the sage,
masculine outdoorsman, but his wisdom and masculinity are considerably less
significant than he suspects (observe a sublime montage that examines the way
Alvin conducts himself when no one else is around). Lance has a terrifically
sad, funny scene in which he weeps profusely while recalling a failed attempt to
get laid, entirely oblivious to the inconsequential nature of his plight. Both
characters have a lot of growing to do, but they're also uniquely equipped to
aid each other in times of crisis -- they each have slivers of insight the other
is lacking. Perhaps it's appropriate that their appearance makes them look an
awful lot like The Mario Bros.

This is a film fueled by individual moments rather than a larger narrative,
though the central theme of renewal and starting fresh underscores everything.
The film's strongest scene comes about a half-hour into the proceedings, when
Alvin stumbles upon an elderly woman sifting through the ashes of what used to
be her home. The woman calmly, sadly points out what used to be where and
reflects on how much she wishes she could find certain precious items. I was
unsurprised to learn that the woman and her story were entirely real -- her name
is Joyce Payne, and the film crew just happened to stumble upon her. She's a
treasure, and Rudd's tender, intrigued reaction to her story is just lovely. The
film never quite conjures another scene of that power, but what's left is still
worth seeing.

Ultimately, Prince Avalanche feels like Green stretching his legs and
getting ready to do ambitious things again. It was shot quietly and quickly (it
only took 16 days, and the two leads are isolated for the vast majority of the
film), and it takes full advantage of its wrecked Texas locations. The actors
throw themselves into the material with enthusiasm; it's particularly great to
see Rudd freed of the glib trappings of the more expensive studio comedies he
often appears in (this makes a lovely companion piece to his similar turn in the
more downbeat All is Bright). It's a good film (and a genuinely uplifting
one), but it feels like a overture for things to come. I certainly hope it
is.

Prince Avalance (Blu-ray) has received an excellent 1080p/2.40:1
transfer from the good folks at Magnolia. Detail is tremendous throughout,
really letting the viewer appreciate the film's melancholy-yet-gorgeous imagery.
Depth is tremendous, too, and colors have a lot of pop. Flesh tones are warm and
natural. The DTS HD 5.1 Master Audio track highlights a moving, robust score by
Explosions in the Sky and David Wingo, which goes a long way towards adding to
the film's soulfulness. Supplements include a commentary with Green, production
assistant Hugo Garza and talent driver Paul Logan, four short featurettes
("Paul & Emile," "Lance LeGault," "From the
Ashes" and "AXS TV: A Look at Prince Avalanche"), brief
additional interviews with Rudd, Hirsch and Green, a deleted scene, a trailer
and BD-Live.

Closing Statement

Prince Avalanche has an oddball sense of humor and a surprisingly
sentimental streak that likely won't work for everyone, but those eagerly
awaiting Green's return to more ambitious cinema should appreciate this
charming, low-budget change-of-pace.